Characterization and processing of iron ore fines of Kiriburu deposit of India

The beneficiation potential of the iron ore slimes produced from the washin g plants and tailing ponds of Kiriburu mines assaying up to 60% Fe, 3.34% S iO2, and 2.93% Al2O3 is analyzed. To start with, the ore slime was characte rized in sufficient detail to reveal that it is extremely fine 80% below 11 0 mum and contains substantial amount of goethite (Fe2O3.H2O). The liberati on study indicates that the finer particles (-45 mum) are less liberated th an the coarser particles. Taking into account all the physical and chemical attributes of the ore, a two-stage hydrocyclone-spiral circuit was envisag ed for processing the ore. At first, the performance of this circuit was as sessed through simulation using MODSIM - a modular simulator for ore dressi ng plant flow sheets. Simulation results showed that the ore could be upgra ded up to 64% Fe that formed the basis for a pilot plant campaign. A 5-in. hydrocyclone followed by a five-step spiral (5-ft diameter) was set up to p rocess the ore in close circuit. The experimental results show that it is p ossible to raise the iron content up to 64.17% at a solid recovery of 37.38 with simultaneous decrease in the alumina content down to 1.17%. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.